Fulham Territorial Army reservist wins award for boosting numbers

A FULHAM Territorial Army reservist who set up a new unit has been given an award for his efforts.

Captain Chris Elliott, 46, based at the Royal Yeomanry in Fulham High Street, was presented with the Volunteer Reservist of the Year trophy by the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Greater London.

Recognising the significance of the Army 2020 proposals that will require an increase in volunteers soldiers to 18,000, he concluded the Territorial Army could make significant use of, and would benefit from, soldiers and officers leaving the regular Army.

An ex-regular soldier himself, enlisting in 1984, he canvassed opinion in his former Regiment, the Household Cavalry, to drum up support having noted a significant gap between 'A' Squadron in Swindon and the Regiment’s HQ in Fulham, which was not covered by any other reserve Royal Armoured Corps regiment.

He concluded a new unit could be established and sustained at Combermere Barracks in Windsor drawing from ex-regular Household Cavalry soldiers who were leaving the Regular Army, and worked tirelessly to generate interest among recent and future service-leavers.

Speaking at the ceremony in Bayswater last week, Captain Elliott said: “It is real recognition of the work the squadron as a whole is doing and I share it with all of my colleagues.”

Greater London Reserve Forces and Cadets Association chief executive Hugh Purcell: “As a direct result of his foresight, Captain Elliot has not only increased the reserve footprint at a critical time, but also assisted the Royal Yeomanry in meeting its manning targets."